Discharge indicator for fluid containers



United States Patent Office, 3,333,641

Patented Aug. 1, 1967 3 333 641 cator pin 21 is displaced by the stopper 11 it also serves DISCHARGE b cf o FOR FLUID to interrupt an electric circuit and this interruption of CONTAINERS the electric circuit is used to cause a change of state Bernard S. Hansom, 3 Foxherne, Turner Road, Langley, in the operation of an electrically-operated indicator.

England, and Walter Leonard Abigail, 105 Grosvenor 5 The indicator shown diagrammatically at 25 may, for Road, Staiues, England example, be electromagnetically operated and normally F f 1966, P- energized from an electrical source 26 so that when the clam Pnonty, apphcahon Great 1965 circuit is interrupted the indicator 25 is de-energized,

5 g: g ghe deenergized state indicating that the extinguisher has 10 een discharged.

This invention relates to containers for fluids and the It will be understood that the electrically-operated inlike, which term is intended to cover solids which are dicator may be located remotely from the extinguisher sufficiently divided to flow like a fluid. More particuto provide a remote indication of discharge which is larly it relates to fluid containers having a normally-sealed additional to the local indication provided by the projectdischarge outlet which is unsealed to permit discharge of ing end of the shank 21a of the pin 21. On the other hand, the contents of the container. Whilst the projecting end of the shank 21a provides a One example of containers to which the present invenlocal visible indication the interruption of the circuit may tion may be applied are fire extinguishers which contain be used to operate an audible indicator additional to any fire extinguishing liquid or powder. remote visual indication.

According to the present invention there is provided The interruption of the electric circuit by displacement a fluid container having a normally-sealed discharge outlet of the indicator pin 21 results from the fact that a portion and comprising a member which is automatically dis- 22a of an insulation covered wire 22 passes through a placed when said discharge outlet is unsealed, displacehole in the shank 21a of the indicator pin 21. When the ment of said member being adapted to sever an electrical pin 21a is displaced the wire 22 is severed. The wire 22 conductor whereby when said electrical conductor is con- 25 extends from both ends of the portion 22a to the exterior nected in electrical circuit with an electrically operated of the junction box cap 20 to provide electrical connecdischarge-indicator the indicator is operated to indicate tions to the indicator 25 and source 26, this circuit being that the fluid container has been discharged. interrupted by severing of the wire 22 to effect operation The invention also provides a junction box cap for a of the indicator 25 upon displacement of the indicator pin fluid container comprising: 21. After shearing of the wire the two ends are retained An open-topped cylindrical wall and a closed base, in position in the junction box cap 20 by crimped sleeves said base having a first aperture extending therethrough 23 provided on the insulated covering of the wire 22. and having second and third apertures extending there- To avoid any short circuit after operation the wire through and located on diametrically opposite sides of 22 is passed through holes in a washer 24 whose surface said first aperture. is electrically non-conducting. In addition any surfaces A pin having a head and a shank, the lower end of of the pin 21 which might come in contact with the said shank fitting in said aperture and the head being severed ends of the wire 22 are rendered non-conducting. positioned within the interior of the junction box cap, The pin 21 and washer 24 may be of aluminium which is said shank having a transverse hole therethrough, and anodized to render the surfaces non-conductive.

A wire, said wire passing through said second and third We claim: apertures with a mid-portion of said wire extending 1. In a fluid container having a discharge outlet northrough said transverse hole whereby said wire is severed mally sealed by a frangible member, by movement Of said pin resulting from an impact Of the a junction box cap for receiving the frangible memhead of said pin.

One construction of fluid container in accordance with 5 f invention will now be deScTiPed by W P example a pin having a head and a shank, said pin being mounted with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

in said cap and being displaceable when said frangi- FIGURE 1 1s a part-sectional side elevation of the container whilst ble member is received in said cap, and

FIGURE 2 is a sectional side elevation of the junction 5 a wire said Wire F through said Shank i being box cap of the container and which illustrates the elec- Severed when said pm 18 dlsplaced by sald hangber when it is fractured to free said discharge outlet, said junction box cap having a base,

trical connections thereto. f

This particular construction of container is designed A fluld container accordmg clalm Wherem t contain fir extinguishing liquid or powder in the at least part of the surface of said pm is electrically inbottle shaped cylinder 10. Prior to discharge the outlet Sulatedof the cylinder 10 is sealed by a stopper 11 having a thin A fluid container according to claim wherein Said rim 11a which is severed by ignition of an explosive car- Win? has an insulated coveringtridge 12 when it is desired to discharge the pressurised A junction box p for a fluid container 'ccmprising contents of the cylinder 10. The stopper has a nut portion an p pp cylindrical Wall and a closed base, Said 11b secured by an internal screw-thread 110 on the nut base having a fi aperture extending therethrough,

portion to an external screw-thread 11d on the main having Second and third apertures extending stopper. The explosive gases resulting from ignitio of therethrough and located on diametrically opposite the cartridge 12 enter the space 13 above the nut portion sides of said first ape 11b and apply pressure thereto which fractures the thin a pin having a head and a shank, the lower end of said rim 11a, the stopper 11 being driven by the explosive shank fitting in said aperture and the head being gases into the cap 20 which is shown in detail in FIG- positioned within the interior of the junction box URE 2. cap, said shank having a transverse hole there- The stopper 11 strikes the discharge indicator pin 21 through, and

and displaces it so that one end projects beyond the a wire, said wire passing through said second and third outer surface of the cap 20 and serves to indicate that apertures with a mid-portion of said wire extending the extinguisher has been discharged. When the indithrough said transverse hole whereby said wire is 3 4 severed by movement of said pin resulting from an References Cited the head UNITED STATES PATENTS 5. A unction box cap according to claim 4, wherein said wire is connected in series electrical circuit with an 2,884,076 4/1959 Mathlsen 16928 X electrical source and an electrically energized member 5 whereby said member is fie-energized When said Wire is HENSON WOOD Primary Examiner severed. H. NATTER, Assistamt Examiner. 

1. IN A FLUID CONTAINER HAVING A DISCHARGE OUTLET NORMALLY SEALED BY A FRANGIBLE MEMBER, A JUNCTION BOX CAP FOR RECEIVING THE FRANGIBLE MEMBER WHEN IT IS FRACTURATED TO FREE SAID DISCHARGE OUTLET, SAID JUNCTION BOX CAP HAVING A BASE, A PIN HAVING A HEAD AND A SHANK, SAID PIN BEING MOUNTED IN SAID CAP AND BEING DISPLACEABLE WHEN SAID FRANGIBLE MEMBER IS RECEIVED IN SAID CAP, AND A WIRE, SAID WIRE PASSING THROUGH SAID SHANK AND BEING SEVERED WHEN SAID PIN IS DISPLACED BY SAID FRANGIBLE MEMBER. 